Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Raise the sky
We got to fly over the land, over the sea
Fate unwinds; and if we die, souls arise
God, do not seize me please, till victory
Take arms, take aim, be without shame
No one to bow to, to vow to, to blame
Legions of light, virtuous flight ignite, excite
And you will see us coming, V-formation through the sky
Film survives, eyes cry
On the hill hear us call through a realm of sound
Oh, oh-oh, down and down
Down and 'round, oh, down and 'round
'Round and 'round, oh, 'round and 'round
Rend the veil and we shall sail
The nail, the grail: that's all behind thee
In deed, in creed, the curve of our speed
And we believe that we will raise the sky
We got to fly over the land, over the sea
Fate unwinds; and if we die, souls arise
God, do not seize me please, till victory
Victory, till victory
Victory, till victory
We got to fly over the land, over the sea
Fate unwinds; and if we die, souls arise
God, do not seize me please, till victory
Take arms, take aim, be without shame
No one to bow to, to vow to, to blame
Legions of light, virtuous flight ignite, excite
And you will see us coming, V-formation through the sky
Film survives, eyes cry
On the hill hear us call through a realm of sound
Oh, oh-oh, down and down
Down and 'round, oh, down and 'round
'Round and 'round, oh, 'round and 'round
Rend the veil and we shall sail
The nail, the grail: that's all behind thee
In deed, in creed, the curve of our speed
And we believe that we will raise the sky
We got to fly over the land, over the sea
Fate unwinds; and if we die, souls arise
God, do not seize me please, till victory
Victory, till victory
Victory, till victory
Lyrics submitted by hesterprynne
Till Victory Lyrics as written by Jay Dee Daugherty Ivan Kral
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
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Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
I think this is about generational changes Hippies were a reaction against mindless '50s consumerism Punk was a reaction against the hippie movement Mindless '80s consumerism was a reaction against Punk 1990s grunge-rock and rap and hip hop culture was a reaction Against mindless '80s consumerism And our current 2000s consumerism Is a reaction against everything Leading back to an almost 1950s state of mind of "Whoever has the most toys wins" Just look at Hannah Montana and High School Musical and The Jonas Bros. (It's like Elvis Presley or early Beatle Mania all over again) But pretty soon we ought to expect another movement (Is Emo a widespread social movement yet?)
Patti Smith never ceases to amaze me. She has something offensive for everyone. Rock N' Roll Nigger for the Staunch Conservative, the judgmental Christian, the bigoted Redneck. Dead on!
But what has she for you, the dyed-in-the-wool Liberal, unyielding atheist, the science-minded, the enlightened few?
Why, Christ's Second Coming of course! 'Til Victory.
Rend the veil and we shall sail The nail, the grail That's all behind thee In deed, in creed
cross), the veil (in the temple) rended at Christ's death, the grail (eternal life) at Christ's resurrection. That's the first victory, 2000 years ago (behind thee, Christ). Be without Shame and feel free to join in, to take charge, take aim at this first victory!
The second victory is later, when fate unwinds and souls arise... when Christ returns.
Fate Unwinds. Souls arise. God do not seize me please 'Til victory." ... Legions of light Virtuous flight Ignite, excite
(What could be more virtuous than the final victory of Good over Evil?)
I saw heaven standing open (raise the sky) and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. (Virtuous in flight) He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven (Legions of Light) were following him (in V formation), riding on white horses (through the sky) and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. -Rv. 19:11-14
'Til Victory! Amen.
Object! Reject! But do so in Truth! Ask yourself why you would. Maybe the idea is too far-fetched, too poorly argued. Touche! But is that all? Or is it simply just too offensive to contemplate Patti Smith singing of the Second Coming?
-Pie
Here is the corrected text for the mistake after the first citation.<br /> <br /> Rend the veil and we shall sail<br /> The nail, the grail<br /> That's all behind thee<br /> In deed, in creed<br /> <br /> Ah, verses reminiscent of Biblical images of the crucifixion! The nail (in the cross), the veil (in the temple) rended at Christ's death, the grail (eternal life) at Christ's resurrection. That's the first victory, 2000 years ago (behind thee, Christ). Be without Shame and feel free to join in, to take charge, take aim at this first victory!